Thill-coupling



(No Model.) A W HOLLINGSWORTH.

. THILL GOUPLING. y No. 423,765. Patented Ma,r18,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AQUILA WV. HOLLINGSWORTH, OF WEST LIBERTY, IOWA.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,765, dated March 18, 1890. Application filed January 22,1890( Serial No. 337,681. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: v

Be it known that I, AQUILA W. HOLLINGS- WORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Liberty, in the county of Muscatine and State of Iowa, have invented a new 'and useful Thill-Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in thill-couplings.

The object of the present invention is to provide a thill-coupling of simple and inexpensive construction adapted to readily receive a thill and permit the same to be quickly lremoved therefrom and capable of securely holding the thill without liability of accidental displacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined thill-coupler and anti-rattlei` which will completely prevent the noise usually made by the parts when a vehicle is passing over rough surfaces.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of athill-conpling constructed in accordance with this invention, a shaft or thill iron being secured in operative position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, the hinged top being raised. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a box constructed of metal and adapted to be clipped to an axle and receive a thill or shaft iron 2, and it is composed of a bottom plate 3, side pieces 4:, and a back 5, all of which may be formed integral with one another and be cast in a single piece. The bottom plate has its front end 6 curved and approximately semicircular, and forms the front of the box and provides curved bearings to receive the journal of the shaft or thill iron, and the said bottom 3 is provided with an opening or slot 7, which receives the shaft-iron and enables the thills to be moved vertically. The rear end 8 extends beyond the back 5 of the box and is provided with suitable perforations to receive bolts or staples to clip the coupling-box to an axle, and

the back 5 extends upwardbeyond the sides, which are recessed at 9, and is providedwith bearings 10, in which is journaled a rod 11, that hinges a top 12 to the back 5. The top `12 has depending side plates 13, that are arranged, When the hinged top is closed, upon the outside of .the sides 4, and the hinged top is provided at its front end with .a depending inwardly-inclined plate 14, that is recessed at its sides to provide shoulders 415, that bear upon the recessed portions 9 of the sides 4 and support the hinged top when the latter is closed, and the said depending inclined plate 14 is provided at its upper edge with a transverse slot 16, in which is arranged a spring-actuated bolt 17, that is adapted to engage under the edges ofthe curved end or extended and in position to engage the front of the box. The bolt maybe pushed back by the fingers or by a tool, access to the bolt bei ing had through the opening at the front of the box. The journals of the shaft or thill iron 2 are held in the curved recesses or bearings at the front of the coupling-box and prevented from rattling by a rubber cushion 20, whose front edge is curvedand conforms to the configuration of the adjacent sides of the journals, and the rear edge is inclined and arranged to be engaged by the depending plate 14, and be thereby held tightly against the shaft or thill iron 2.

It will readily be seen that the thill-coupling is simple and inexpensive in construction, is adapted to permit a shaft or thill -to be quickly inserted or removed therefrom, and is capable of securely retaining the same without rattling.

1. A thill coupling comprising the box adapted to be clipped to an axle and provided at its front end with curved bearings and a vertical opening, the hinged top having a sliding bolt arranged to engage the box IOO and provided with a depending linwardly-inclined plate arranged at the front of the top, anda rubber cushion having its front face curved and completing the bearings, and its rear face inclined andadapted to be engaged by the inclined plate of the hinged top, sub.- .stantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A thill coupling comprising the box composed of the back 5, the sides 4, having their upper edges recessed and their front edges curved, the bottom having its rear end extending beyond the back 5 and adapted to be clipped to an axle, and having its front end curved and providing curved bearings at the front of the box, and having an opening 7, the top hinged to the back and-having depending Side plates and an inclined plate 14,

arranged at the front thereof, the rubber `cushion having its front face curved and its rear face inclined and arranged to be en gaged by the plate 14:, and a bolt adapted to lock the hinged top in its closed position, substantially as described.

3. A thill coupling comprising the box composed 'of the back 5, the sides 4, having .vided With a headed bar, a spiral spring coiled around the bar, and a rubber cushion having its front face curved and its rear face inclined and arranged to be engaged by theY inclined plate, substantially as described.

In testimony that I' claim the foregoing as my oWnI have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses,

AQUILA WV. I-IOLLNGSWORTH.

Witnesses:

SOLOMON H. BETHEA, SHERWooD DIXON.` 

